Four masked intruders entered a home in Vendin‑le‑Vieil on September 20 and tied up both parents and their two children, forcing the father — a crypto‑sector IT employee — to transfer €40,000 in cryptocurrency. The 12‑year‑old daughter was reportedly struck during the attack; the family later freed themselves and were treated for shock. Prosecutors opened an inquiry for unlawful confinement and organized extortion and referred the case to interdepartmental police and France’s anti‑cybercrime office. Authorities have made no arrests.
Family Held at Home as Crypto Worker Forced to Transfer €40,000 in Violent Invasion
Photo by BeInCrypto
Four masked men broke into a family home in Vendin-le-Vieil, Pas-de-Calais, at about 4 a.m. on September 20 and forced the father — a salaried IT specialist who works in the cryptocurrency sector — to transfer €40,000 in digital assets.
The intruders bound both parents and their two children, aged 8 and 12, with black tape before fleeing the scene. According to the Béthune public prosecutor’s office, the group ransacked the property and assaulted the father while demanding identity documents, access codes and cryptocurrency transfers.
A child injured: A source close to the investigation told reporters the 12‑year‑old daughter was struck in the face with a car key. The assailants remained inside the home for more than three hours before leaving; the family later freed themselves and firefighters treated all four members for shock.
Investigation Under Way
Prosecutors in Béthune opened an inquiry for unlawful confinement of several people and extortion by an organized gang. The case has been referred to the interdepartmental judicial police for Pas‑de‑Calais and Nord, working with France’s anti‑cybercrime office. Authorities have not announced any arrests and have not publicly disclosed how the suspects identified the father as a cryptocurrency holder.
Wider Context: Rising Crypto‑Linked Violence in France
French officials say this attack is part of a broader spike in violent incidents tied to the cryptocurrency sector. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that authorities logged 77 kidnappings, confinements, extortions or attempts connected to crypto since January. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis recorded 30 publicly known French incidents through mid‑2026, up from 19 in all of 2025, and says the monthly pace rose from about 1.9 to 4.6.
Chainalysis links much of the surge to an alleged 2024 breach in which a Paris‑area tax official is accused of stealing and selling dossiers containing addresses, holdings and phone numbers of wealthy crypto holders. Analysts also note two trends relevant to this case: home invasions made up an increasing share of global crypto‑related incidents (37% by mid‑2026, up from 26% in 2023), and in France more than 40% of attacks now target relatives rather than the holder directly.
High‑profile targets have also been affected: in February, masked men stormed the building of Binance France president David Prinçay but fled when he was not present. The Vendin‑le‑Vieil case remains under active investigation by local and national police units working with the anti‑cybercrime office.
Note: Details reported here are based on official statements and sources close to the investigation. Some allegations (including the 2024 data breach) remain subject to ongoing probes and legal processes.
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